1. Anniversary Adventure
Write an anniversary bucket list and fill it with fun adventures, from spending the day at amusement parks (Dorney Park and Hersheypark are great options) to visiting Classic Harley-Davidson in Leesport and taking a motorcycle ride through Berks County’s sprawling countryside. Have a high-flying love? Plan a rock climbing session at Reading Rocks or a hot air balloon ride with the United States Hot Air Balloon Team in Pottstown. “Our favorite thing to do on our anniversary is to have a new adventure,” says couple Alexandra and Aaron Booth of Reading. “We try not to repeat the same anniversary twice in order to keep things fresh.”
2. Great Outdoors
Step away from the daily grind and get outdoors. Go fishing at Blue Marsh, take a morning bike ride along the Union Canal trail or hike through Hawk Mountain. For more fresh-air fun, drive up to the Pagoda and watch the sun set over the city or spend the night under the stars during a camping trip at Blue Rocks Family Campground in Lenhartsville. Competitive? Try a round of golf at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood or grab a racket from Fromuth Tennis, West Lawn, and head to the court. Winner gets a kiss!
3. Vacation
For their anniversaries, Ericka Evans-Loos and John Loos of Wyomissing have visited Italy, St. Lucia and Montreal, as well as Georgia, Florida, California and North Carolina. “We love to travel, so that is our way to celebrate,” Ericka says. “When we get there, we try to pick an unusual restaurant in the area to try out and splurge on.” Rosa Julia Parra of Reading agrees a vacay, when possible, makes a great anniversary gift. Each year, she and her husband, Jose, visit Puerto Rico, where they enjoy the culture, music, food and beaches. “Old San Juan has lots of European architecture and Old World charm that makes it a romantic city. It’s perfect for couples.” Need travel help? AAA Reading-Berks is a great resource.
4. Get Inked
To celebrate their recent anniversary, Scott Rohrbach and Trisha Ortiz
decided to get matching tattoos. The West Lawn couple visited Color Wheel Tattoo in Shillington and had the words “Created with Love, Fueled by Passion, United Forever” tattooed on their forearms. “We both are huge advocates for body art,” Trisha explains. “Instead of going away for the weekend, we wanted something more permanent and meaningful. He came up with the quote, and I came up with the placement. It is simple and to the point, exactly like us.”
5. Party Time
Don’t wait for a milestone anniversary to plan a special bash. The staff at RR Games in Birdsboro can suggest ideas, supplies and games – such as poker, foosball, table tennis, air hockey, pool, darts and classic board games – for a winner-takes-all game night. Prefer a glitzy affair? Think Great Gatsby and organize a Roaring ‘20s party with lush décor from Vintage Lace and Table in St. Lawrence. Or invoke your inner Cyndi Lauper and arrange a fun I-Love-
the-80s party, complete with teased hair, off-the-shoulder neon shirts and leg warmers.
6. Staycation
“We usually keep it simple and cook dinner together, which is tons of fun,” says BCL reader Autumn Hardy of Temple. Forget the fancy plans. Consider a low-key staycation where you can chill out with your spouse and simply enjoy each other’s company. Make breakfast in bed, followed by a romantic bubble bath. (Our blogger Phoebe Canakis has some yummy recipes online). Grab a to-go lunch from Café Sweet Street in Reading, set up a picnic on the living room floor and snuggle in for a movie marathon. Wrap up the night with your favorite wine, pizza and scrumptious dessert.
7. Memory Lane
Create aww-worthy moments by strolling down memory lane. Recreate your wedding menu at home or renew your vows, either in a large ceremony or in your bedroom over morning coffee. Autumn Gilmore and her husband Peter, of Sinking Spring, order a smaller version of their wedding cake from Unique Desserts by Chef Anne Louise and their wedding flowers from Stein’s Flowers Inc. Marissa Banks of Wyomissing recently celebrated her 1-year anniversary with hubby Matt at Stokesay Castle, which was their wedding venue. The waiter served their wedding cake for dessert, she says. For an upcoming anniversary, Shayla Bradley Oberly and Ryan Oberly of West Reading plan to have dinner at their wedding spot, the Stirling Guest Hotel. “They have the best food, and we had a great time hosting our wedding there. I definitely felt like a princess,” she says.
8. Couples Photo Shoot
Say cheese! Skip the selfies this anniversary and plan a professional photo shoot. Stop by Hair On The Avenue for a mini-glam makeover first. Then, recreate your first date, visit locations that illustrate your love story or find a romantic backdrop at the Reading Public Museum, Berks County Heritage Center or one the area’s covered bridges. Add to your picture-perfect day by painting personalized photo frames at Busy Bees Pottery and Art in Wyomissing.
9. Take a class together
For starters, mixology classes are always fun, or you can contact the Berks County Homebrew Club and ask if a member is available for a private craft beer class. Winedown café & wine bar in West Reading offers wine classes, and you can get sizzling with a cooking class at Linda Bell’s Culinary Classroom. Add some spice by learning how to salsa at Wanda Holdren’s Dance Academy or taking a glassblowing or sculpting class at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (remember Ghost?). Enjoy all-day fun at Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex, which offers an array of classes, including Zumba, hockey and ice skating.
10. Weekend Getaway
Pick a city, pack an overnight bag and go! BCL readers suggested Bear Creek Mountain Resort, The Spa at The Hotel Hershey, Kinder Hawk Schoolhouse and the Glasbern Inn as the perfect weekend getaways. Toni Reece and her husband Jim love to visit Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. “We wander down to the Reading Terminal Market, have champagne at the Parc Restaurant and take a walk through Rittenhouse Square Park. We wander down Chestnut or Walnut streets and try a new restaurant,” says Reese, of Mount Penn. “We get to explore the city and only be an hour away from home.”
